Catalytic oxidation of unsaturated organic compounds



Patented Mar. 9, 1948 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF UNSATURATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Nicholas A. Milas, Belmont, Mass, assignor to Research Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing.- Application September 15, 1943, Serial No. 502,525

11 Claims. (01. 260-617)- I This invention relates to the catalytic oxidation of unsaturated organic compounds, and its principal object is to provide a simple, economical and eflicient process of producing useful oxygenated organic compounds such as glycols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, quinones and or-.

ganic acids. 7

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description wherein I have illustrated the application of my new process in the preparation of various substances constituting the class of oxygenated organic compounds.

The term unsaturated organic compound and derivatives thereof, as herein used, is confined .to compounds embodying an unsaturation between carbon atoms, such for example as the.

olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, acetylene, compounds of the general formula R C- -CH, where- .catalytically active oxide of a metal known to form very unstable paracids including Os, Ti, Zr, Th, V, Nb, Ta,-Cr, Mo, W, U and Ru-(see J. A. C. S., 59, pages 2342 and 2343; and Berichte, 41 (1908) page-3536) preferably, osmium tetroxide, ruthenium tetroxide, vanadium pentoxide, molybdenum oxide or chromium trioxide, in an essentially non-alkaline environment (that is, in the absence of an inorganic base), there is produced an oxygenated organic compound, the nature of which depends upon the particular type of unsaturated compound subjected to such treatment, the temperature, the pressure (if the compound treated be in gaseous phase), the solvent medium, the extent of oxidation and other such factors. For example, olefins and their derivaaldehydes and/or hydroxy acids. In the case of benzenoid hydrocarbons the glycols produced dehydrate to yield phenols which may be further oxidized to produce quinones.

I have successfully produced substantially good yields of ethylene glycol from ethylene, propylene glycol from propylene, isobutylene glycol from isobutylene, glycollic acid from acetylene, trimethyl ethylene glycol from tri-methyl ethylene, pinacol from tetramethyethylene, 2- methyl' butane diol-l,2 from Z-methyl butene-l,

.pentane diol-2,3 from pentene-Z, cetene glycol from cetene, hexane tetrol-l,2,5,6, from di-allyl,

phenyl glycol from styrene, cis-cyclohexane dial-1,2, adipic aldehyde and adipic acid from cyclohexene, .p-menthane tetrol-1,2,8,9 from dlimonene, cyclopentenediol-1,4Rand cyclopentanetetro1-1,2,3,4, from cyclopentadiene, ethyl dihydroxybutyrate from ethyl crotonate, diethyl mesotartrate from .diethyl maleatadiethyl race- A mate from diethyl fumarate, 2-methyl-pentenediol-2,3-one-4 from mesityl oxide, glycol-aldehyde from vinyl, acetate, glycolaldehyde from divinyl ether, glycolaldehyde from vinyl bromide, l

9,10-dihydroxy-stearic acid from oleic acid, beta-phenylglycerol and di-(beta-phenylglycerol) ether from cinnamyl alcohol, phenol from benzene, cresols from toluene, naphthaquinone from naphthalene, anthraquinone from anthracene, phenanthrenequinone from phenanthrene, glycerol from allyl alcohol, phenyl glyceric acid from cinnamic acid, di-hydroxybutyric acid from crotonic 'acid, mesotartaric acid from maleic tives invariably yield glycols which may be further oxidized to produce aldehydes, ketones with hydrogen peroxide, in accordance with the eneralized present invention, may therefore be by the following equations:

I. (Monosubstituted oleflns) H H catal (a) R c=cn, no on R- :-cm

wherein R represents a monovalent organic radieggs of the group consisting of alkyl and aryl radic and still further oxidation results in the formation of organic acids, as follows:

wherein R1 and R: represent monovalent organic radicals of the group consisting of alkyl and aryl V radicals.

Further oxidation of the glycol thus formed od ces a k tone and an aldeh de, as ollows: pr u e i y f 25 yields formaldehyde WhlCh may be oxidized to (b) R; H

j: 5 catalyst R,- H BOOB (6) RCECH HOOH 65 Oxidation of the glycol thus formed produces a ketone and an aldehyde, as follows:

(6) Ra Ra a 1: catalyst a,- -n no on Rx v K 0:0 Rr-l==0 2E0- so C=0 ZHIO andlthe aldehyde may be further oxidized to produce an organic acid as in I (c) IV. (Tetrasubstltuted olcflns) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent monovalent organic radicals of the group consisting of alkyl and aryl radicals.

This type of glycol may be oxidized to produce ketones, as follows:

The reaction of hydrogen peroxide and ethylene, a typical olefin, to produce ethylene glycol proceeds as follows:

catalyst v. n,c=on, noon nic--cni Although further oxidation of ethylene glycol formic acid as illustrated in Equations I (a) and I (b), this does not take place to a great degree, since yields of glycol as high as 97% have been produced. v

Similarly, the reaction of the aforesaid acetylenic compounds and hydrogen peroxide may be illustrated by the following equations:

VI. (Monosubstitutcd acetylene) a a \i H RC-CH JJH )E' R CH wherein R represents a monovalent organic radical of the group consisting of alkyl and aryl radicals.

The hydroxy and keto aldehydes thus formed so may be oxidized further to produce organic acids asfollows:

n n (I: catalyst a (b) R -fJ-H+HO0H R COOH+HIO I catalyst (c) 30-? HOOH -0 RC-COOH H1O VII (Dlwbstituted acetylene) catalyst (G) RiCECRl H0011 BOOK 1110 0-12 -0 R;C-OBg B. H i H.

' wherein R: and R: represent monovaien't orlanic m radicals of the group consisting 0! alkyl and aryl m 1 radicals. r 1. E ego VIII. The reaction of hydrogen peroxide and acetylene (028:) to produce (a) glyoxal and 5 B K 0:0 glycollic aldehyde,- (b) glycollic acid, and (c) 1 oxalic acid may proceed as follows: wow oidohyde v 'zmo a. on on +1! on I:

s in H H BO-OK -o B-lbnO K H H (6) HCECH 4- BOOK catalyst (b) HO-OE ZHOOH -o HO-O-C-OH 28 0 K. For cyclohexene the addition of hydrogen (0 m H Y m peroxide proceeds as follows:

a catalyst a 00011 SHOOK =0 R coon 85 n Adipio scid X, For benzene. -toluene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene and the like, the addition or hydrogen peroxide may be illustrated as Oyoiohmno Oyeiohosano dbl-1. 101107183 (a) n on on o n a noon mo On m H OH H I! H moon I I 211,0 Catalyst B (may H on HOOH lJ-Nlphthnqulnone 0H Catalyst mlmoon m0 OH H OH a-Napbtbol I +2 0: 0H 0 H OH 0 :0 Catalyst 8H0 OH c 003 o-Naphthaqnlnons Plithaliic acid H OH H Catalyst HOOK H OH ynlznoon Anthraquinona OH Catalyst Phenanthraquinons In carrying out my process successfully, it is advisable to employ substantially anhydrous solvents, preferably selected from such organic substances that do not undergo oxidation during the reaction. Tertiary alcohols, in general, and particularly tertiary butyl and tertiary amyl alcohols, have been found to be suitable solvents for this purpose, although it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to thesevsolvents since various other reagents, such as nitriles and certain types of ethers, acetic acidtertiary alcohol mixtures. etc., may be used to advantage. Illustrative or operable nitriles is 75 hydrous.

9 A preferred procedure for the preparation of the hydrogen peroxide reagent in tertiary butyl alcohol is as follows:

400 cc. of pure tertiary butyl alcohol is added to 100 cc. of 30% hydrogen peroxide (Albone C), and the solution treated with small portions of anhydrous-sodium sulphate, thereby forming two out loss of the peroxide, provided an all-glass or other suitable apparatus is employed.

An osmium tetroxide catalyst may be prepared by dissolving substantially anhydrous osmium tetroxide in substantially pure tertiary butyl alcohol, free from isobutylene.

A chromium trioxide catalyst similarly may be prepared by dissolving substantially anhydrous chromic acid (CrOs) in a substantially pur saturated tertiary aliphatic alcohol (CnH2n+1)s COH, e. g., substantially pure tertiary butyl or amyl alcohol, or in a substantially anhydrous mixture of acetic acid and a tertiary alcohol; or,-

the substantially anhydrous CrOa may be added directly in the solid form to the substantially anhydrous medium containing hydrogen peroxide and the substance to be hydroxylated. Preparation of the other catalytic metal oxides may similarly be formed by dissolving the metal oxide in one or another ofv the organic solvents above stated. Or, the selected catalytic metal oxide may be added, in powdered or finely divided state,

to the'hydrogen peroxide reagent wherein the same eventually dissolves forming a completely homogeneous solution. The catalyst may be used alone or in combination.

I have found that the temperature plays an important role in directing the type of oxygenated product to be formed. For example; formation of glycols in high yields is usually favored between room temperature (e. g., 21 C.) and several degrees below C, whereas aldehydes, ketones and organic acids are produced more advantageously at temperatures higher than room temperature (e. g., between 21 C. and the boiling point of the non-aqueous solvent employed).

The following examples are illustrative of the application of the invention 1.-GASEOUS UNSATURATED SUBSTANCE For the production of ethylene glycol or of any lycol from any unsaturated gaseous substance, the latter may be bubbled through the peroxide reagent containing any one of the catalysts above suggested, or any combination of them, or it may be introduuced under pressure of various magnitudes from one to several atmospheres or even several hundred atmospheres. The end of the reaction is usually indicated by a' color change or by the complete utilization of the peroxide as determined by titration. The glycol or other products may be separated by fractionation or in any other suitable manner. Using the procedure herein disclosed I have succeeded in producing 97% of ethylene glycol from ethylene; 68% of propylene glycol from propylene; 38-40% anethol; 66%

. (0.05 mole) of 6.3%

oxygenated products.

cresols from toluene} 2.Lmtnn Ami SoLrn UNsAmArEn Suns-rowers (a) Hydrocarbons The unsaturated hydrocarbons are dissolved or mixed bons may be present preferably in the ratio of one mole to one or two moles of the peroxide. although greater excess of peroxide is necessary when aldehydes. ketones and acids are desired. The speed of depends upon the concentration of the catalyst which may be presentpreferably in concentrationsfrom .05 g. to 5 stance to be oxidized.

The end of the reaction a color change or by the absence of peroxide. The glycols or other oxygenated products may then be separated either by fractionation or in any other well known manner. Using this general procedure I have succeeded in producing over 30% of pentane dial-2,3 from pentene-2; 38% of trimethyl ethylene glycol from trimethyl ethylene; 51% of z-methyl is usually indicated by butane diol-1,2 from z-methyl butene-l; 82% of.

cetene glycol from cetene; 0ver50% of phenyl glycol from styrene; 58% cyclohexane diol-l,2 and about 35% adipic acid from cyclohexene; {15% of hexane tetrol-l,2,5,6 from di-allyl; 35% of p-menthane tetrol-1,2,'8,9 from limonene; 22-30% phenol from benzene; about 30% of and almost quantitative yield of anthraquinone from anthracene, The yields in all cases were based on the amount of hydrocarbon used up in the reaction.

(b) Miscellaneous Using the same procedure as in the foregoing examples, I have produced 60% glycerol from allyl alcohol; 54% of a.p-dihydroxy butyric acid from crotonic acid; 56% of phenyl glyceric acid from cinnamic acid; 48% of racemic acid from fumaric acid; over 30% mesotartaric acid from maleic acid; 60% 9,10-dihydroxy stearic acid from oleic acid; 57% of diethyl racemate from diethyl fumarate;

of vanillin from isoeugenol; 68% yield of piperonal from isosafrole; and 44% of homopiperonal from safrole. In the case of some essential oils in which the double bonds are very active, the oxidation state, although it may be controlled to produce the glycol.

The invention is more particularly described and further illustrated in the following:

Mesotartaric acid from malezc acid-To 2.9 g. (0.025 mole) of maleic acid were added 27.2 cc.

solution of hydrogen peroxide in anhydrous tertiary butyl alcohol and -2 cc. osmium tetroxide solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, and the mixture was allowed to stand overnight at room temperature. was complete on the following day when the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the reaction up to certain limits 55% of anisaldehyde from V is apt to go beyond the glycol The reaction.

the residue dissolved in water. The solution was then made ammoniacal, heated to boiling and treated with excess 10% calcium chloride solution, whereby the calcium oxalate and mesotartrate precipitated out. This precipitate was removed, dried and weighed: yield 1.9 g. To remove the calcium mesotartrate, the precipitate was extracted with 20% sodium hydroxide solution. This separation yielded 1.2 g. of calcium mesotartrate and 0.7 g. of calcium oxalate. The calcium mesotartrate was further purifiedby reprecipitation and analyzed.

The yield of mesotartaric acid was 30.3%, and that of oxalic acid 14.6%, of the 1.9 g. of maleic acid consumed in the reaction.

Vanillin from isoeugenol was mixed with 45 cc. of 6.3% solution. of hydrogen peroxide in anhydrous tertiary amyl alcohol and 0.02 g. of vanadium pentoxide. The catalyst went into solution, which heated up spontaneously. The reaction was complete in about twelve hours when themixture had become more intensely red. An analysis vanillin by precipitating the p-nitrophenylhydrazone gave a yield of 66% of vanillin.

Anisaldehyde from anethole (p-methomypropenyl benzene) .To g. of anethole were added 45 cc. of 6.3% solution of hydrogen peroxide in anhydrous tertiary amyl alcohol and 0.02 g. .of vanadium pentoxide. The catalyst went slowly into solution,.which heated up almost to the boiling point of the solvent. The reaction was over in about two hours when the mixture became deep red and the peroxide had completely disappeared. Considerable amounts of acetaldehyde vapor came off during the reaction. The solvent was then removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in glacial acetic acid. Aliquot parts of this were analyzed tor anisaldehyde. The yield of anisaldehyde amounted to 55%. In addition to anisaldehyde some anisicacid was isolated from the reaction, and a small amount of a deep red solid which is presumably an addition product of vanadium pentoxide with anisaldehyde.

Phenol from benzene.--Fifteen and six-tenths grams of benzene (thiophene-free) was mixed with an equimolecular quantity of the hydrogen peroxide solution and 0.04 g. of vanadium pentoxide. The catalyst went slowly into solution which, after a few hours, acquired a blood red color. At the end of twenty-four hours, the reaction was complete, the red color had disappeared, and the catalyst separated out as a dark green precipitate. The mixture was then filtered, the

.filtrate fractionated to remove the solvent and the unused benzene (13 g.) the residue dissolved in water, and the amount of phenol estimated by precipitating the insoluble tribromophenol. Two and nine-tenths grams of tribromophenol was obtained corresponding to 30% yield of phenol calculated on the basis of the amount of benzene used. A sample of tribromophenol was recrystallized from dilute alcohol, M. P. 93, and showed no depression upon mixing with an authentic sample of tribromophenol.

Cyclopentene-2-diol-L4 from cyclopentadiene.-A solution of 0.85 mole of hydrogen peroxide in 560 cc. of tertiary butyl alcohol (anhydrous) was cooled to about 2 C. and then mixed with 51 g. (0.773 mole) of freshly distilled cyclopentadiene (B. F. 40-43" under total reflux) and 5 cc. oi. a 0.5% solution of osmium tetroxide in tertiary butyl alcohol. The reaction was complete at 0' in three days. The solvent was then isoeugenoL-Five grams of.

for the presence of removed from the reaction mixture by distillation under reduced pressure and in an atmosphere of nitrogen, and the dark brown, viscous residue was repeatedly extracted first with petroleum ether and then with ethyl ether. Finally, the residue was fractionated under reduced pressure and 23.7 g. of a fraction boiling at -83 (1 mm.) was collected and found to consist essentially of cyclopentene-2-diol-L4.

This glycol is a pale yellow, highly viscous liq uid, soluble in water, alcohol and ethyl acetate; insoluble in ether, benzene and other hydrocarbon solvents. It rapidly reduces ammoniacal silver nitrate in the cold, and instantly decolorizes bromine water. It. is not a 'ketonic substance. It is believed that the product is the cis isomer since a. benzylidene derivative was obtained by condensation of the unsaturated glycol with benzaldehyde in accordance with the method of Platt and Hibbert; (Can. J. Res, vol. 7, 1932, p. 629).

The aforesaid residue contained also a minor amount (about 540%) of cyclopentanetetrol- 123,4. This latter compound is an amorphous, slightly colored, very hygroscopic solid (having no definite melting point, turning brown at 190 C. and black at 200 C.) soluble in water and alcohol but insoluble in ether, ethyl acetate and various hydrocarbon solvents.

Glycolaldehyde from vinyl acetate.-To 17.7 g. of vinyl acetate (B. P. 72.5-'73) was added cc. of 6.23% solution of hydrogen peroxide in tertiary butyl alcohol; the mixture was cooled to 0, and to it was added 1 cc. of a solution of osmium tetroxide in tertiary butyl alcohol. After five days at 0 the reaction was complete (reaction mixture turned brown, and peroxide had completely disappeared), whereupon the reaction mixture was distilled to remove unconverted vinyl acetate and the solvent. There was obtained a yield of 60% of glycolaldehyde CHr-CH based on the amount ofvinyl acetate consumed.

9.10 dihyclroxystearic acid from oleic acid.- 7 g. of oleic acid, B. P. 230235 (21 mm.), was mixed with 14.3 cc. of a 5.95% solution of hydrogen peroxide in tertiary butyl alcohol; the mixture was cooled to 0, and to it was added 0.5 cc. of a solution of osmium tetroxide in tertiary butyl alcohol. The solution became orange in color, but after standing over night at 0 it turned colorless and the reaction was complete. A considerable amount of 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid had precipitated. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was washed thoroughly with ether to remove any unconverted oleic acid. The washed, solid, product was recrystallized from absolute alcohol: M. P. 129-131 corr.) Its neutralization equivalent was found to be 319. The yield amounted to 60%.

This application contains subject-matter in common with my application Serial No. 382,273, now abandoned, filed March 7, 1941, and is a continuation-in-part thereof.

I claim:

1. Process for the direct production of polyhydroxy derivatives of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one olefinic linkage, which comprises treating the hydrocarbon with hydrogen peroxide in a neutral and initially substantially a ydrous environment and in the presence of a catalytically active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivative from the reaction mixture.

2. Process for the direct production of polyhydroxy derivatives of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one oleflnic linkage, which comprises treating the hydrocarbon with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution oi. hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalytically active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivative from the reaction mixture.

3. Process for the direct production of polyhydroxy derivatives of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one oleflnic linkage, which comprises treating the hydrocarbon with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous'solution of hydrogen peroxide in an inert organic solvent medium in the presence of a catalytically active oxide of a. metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivative from the reaction mixture.

4. Process for the direct production of polyhydroxy derivatives of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one olefinic linkage, which comprises treating the hydrocarbon with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution of hydrogen peroxide in a solvent medium essentially consisting of a tertiary monohydric saturated aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a catalytically active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivative from the reaction mixture.

5. Process for the direct production of polyhydroxy derivatives of olefins, which comprises treating the olefin with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution 01 hydrogen peroxide in an inert organic solvent medium in the presence of a catalytically active oxide oi a metal which forms unstable per-acids, at a, temperature below the boiling point of a solvent medium, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivative of the olefin from the reaction mixture.

6. Process for the direct production 01' polyhydroxy derivatives of dioleflns, which comprises treating the diolefln with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution of hydrogen peroxide in an inert organic solvent medium in the presence 01 a catalytically active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, at a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent medium, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivative of the diolefln from the reaction mixture.

7. Process for the direct production of a polyhydroxy derivative of an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon containing a conjugated system or double bonds, which comprises treating the hydrocarbon with an initially substantially anhy- 14 r drous solution oi. hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalytically active oxide or a metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting polyhydroxy derivativeirom the reaction mixture.

8. Process for the direct production of a product consisting mostly of cyclopentene-2-diol- 1,4(cis) from cyclopentadiene, which comprises treating cyclopentadiene with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution of hydrogen peroxide in an inert organic solvent medium in the presence of a catalyticaily active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, at a temperature below normal room temperature, and recovering the resulting diol from the reaction mixture. v

9. Process for the direct production 01' isobutylene glycol from isobutylene, which comprises treating isobutylene with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution 0! hydrogen peroxide in an inert organic solvent medium in the presence 01 a catalytically active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting isobutylene glycol from the reaction mixture.

10. Process for the direct'production oi hexanetetrol-1,2,5,6 from di-allyl, which comprises treating di-allyl with a neutral and initially substantially anhydrous solution or hydrogen peroxide in an inert organic solvent medium in the presence of a catalytically active oxide of a metal which forms unstable per-acids, and recovering the resulting hexanetetrol-1,2,5,6 from the reaction mixture.

11. As a new product, cyclopentene-z-diol- 1,4(cis) NICHOLAS a. mas.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 508,526 Great Britain July 8, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Milas et al.: "Jour. Am. Ch. Soc.," vol. 58, pages 1302-1304 (1936); vol. 59. p es 543-544 (1937); vol. 59, pa es 2342-2347 (1937); vol. 61, pa es 1844-1847 (1939) vol. 62, P ges 1841-1843 (1940).

"Chemical Abstracts: vol. 15, p. 237 (1921), abstract of article by Boeseken et al. in "Proc. Acad. Sci. Amsterdam"; vol. 23, pp. 69-73 (1920); vol. 24, pp. 5286-7 (1930), abstract of article by Criegee in Ann.," vol. 481, pp, 263-302 (1920); vol, 32,.col. 122 (1938), abstract oi article by Dane et al. in Ann.,' vol. 532, pp. 29-38 (1937).

Criegee: Annalen der Chemie," vol. 522, pages 94-96 (1938).

Dane et al.: Ibid., vol532, pages 29-35 (1937). 

